The penultimate day of the summer season proved to be a big bonanza for the punters. Most well fancied horses justified their to billing and the railbirds landed all the big punches in the bookmakers' ring. The Padmanabhan-trained Miracle Star reigned supreme in the plum event, the Bangalore Summer Million and another top fancy, Inspire from trainer Arjun Manglorkar's yard, came up tops in the principal added attraction, the BTC Workforce Cup run over a mile.

On the strength of her impressive performance in the blue riband of the season, the Zavaray Poonawalla summer Derby, finishing a creditable third behind the winner Fynbos and the runner-up Prokofiev, the Padmanabhan trainee Miracle Star was the obvious choice for the feature and most big bettors slotted her as a `banker' in the popular five-horse puzzle, the Jackpot. The surprise even-money favourite, thanks to the Sulaiman Attaollahi-trained Sicyon, who garnered good support tracked the leader Ashwa Kali Bhani for most part of the mile long trip before Neeraj Rawal guiding the fortunes of the public choice reminded the top contestant of the task ahead and the Padmanabhan ward zipped through to assume command before putting the issue beyond doubt in the final furlong. Sicyon followed the winner home ahead of Miracle Star's stablemate El Rey. Now that Miracle Star is on top of her game, she will be one of the frontline contenders in the forthcoming Mysore 1000 Guineas if her connections choose to parade her skills in the royal city. 

A facile last start winner on Derby day, the Arjun Manglorkar schooled Inspire garnered the maximum support in the BTC Workforce Cup. The well-backed favourite piloted in copybook fashion by leading saddle artiste Antony Raj who, made a big splash booting home four winners,  produced a winning gallop at the all-important end to snuff out the challenge of the lesser fancied Lux Aeterna and sail home in emphatic fashion. Second in demand at the betting ring, Gordon and Forest Fragrance from Vijay Singh's yard, in no mood to take position at the gates were withdrawn. 

The in-form Antony fresh from his treble at Mysore on Wednesday was at his best, earlier packing punch on the Inayathullah-trained Mega Success in the Sha Tin Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs. The favourite to the delight of his supporters edged out the ten to one shot Chinky Pinky by the shortest of margins. The runner-up from MR Singh's yard who performed like a dud when she carried the public purse, finishing more than 15 lengths behind Meghann in her last essay, it appeared had sprouted an extra pair of wings and this improved performance in only four days needs proper explanation from the trainer who has established this in and out pattern with his wards all through the summer season. 

Next astride the vastly improved grey Winfield, Antony produced another quality effort to come up trumps in the Holding Court Plate run over a mile. The six to one shot in a humdinger edged out the Lokanath schooled Supreme Success, who powered through on the rails and Ksepiman from the stables of Kolkata based pro Rutherford, who charged late on the scene to help the gutsy grey register her second straight success. The overwhelming favourite Glorious Strides piloted by top saddle artiste Suraj Narredu failed to display his true potential and shockingly failed to make the board. It was later announced that the strongly fancied favourite returned home lame. 

After recording a hat-trick on Inspire, Antony guiding the fortunes of the second in demand at the betting ring, Vyasa from Darius Byramji's yard was at his brilliant best, snatching the verdict at the shadow of the winning post from the Joseph Awale-trained Dynamic Force in the concluding event, the Confucious Plate. Super Marvella and Dynamic Force were locked in a battle royale in the final furlong before Antony riding like one possessed brought Vyasa into contention and after a brief duel with Dynamic Force piloted by J Chinoy, gained the day to the delight of the Darius camp.  

Darius earlier led in the talented filly Flight Of Fancy, who justified her ranking and rating, making every post a winning one in the upper division of the Baraloy Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs. A confident Vivek who had partnered this classic hopeful in her last essay, pushed Flight Of Fancy to the front soon after the eight runners came under the starter's flag and the Darius ward in top flight showed a clean pair of heels, romping home nice and easy ahead of Perfect Attitude. The Sulaiman-trained Exceed back after a six-month lay-off did well to finish a suggestive third and is one for the notebook. Flight Of Fancy is  another who is likely to feature in the Mysore 1000 Guineas if her connections choose to take the risk of her travel, taking into account that she lacks the temperament required for a safe, enjoyable travel.
 
The lower division of the Baraloy Plate saw another pipping hot favourite Amazing Stride prevail by the shortest of margins, edging out the ten to one shot Knotty Affair from Azhar Ali's yard in the final stride. All credit to champion jockey Trevor Patel, who in a never-say-die bid packed punch on the Padmanabhan ward to win a race which many thought he had lost it after Vivek stole a march on Knotty Affair in the final furlong before losing out in the last stride. Carter did well to finish third ahead of Verrazzano, while the second favourite Vibrant Queen performed below par and failed to even save money in place. 

The Narredu brothers, Rajesh and Suraj combined effectively to land a successful gamble on Unforgettable Star in the opening event, the lower division of the Own Opinion Plate run over a distance of seven furlongs. Backed down from (5/1) to (3/1), Unforgettable Star produced a sparkling gallop at the all-important end to oust the favourite Goddess Of War from the stables of Prasanna Kumar in convincing fashion and on the strength of this performance, this bred in the purple colt is set to provide an encore. The upper division of the event was claimed by the favourite Xanthe from Sulaiman's yard. The winner confidently piloted by Trevor comfortably beat stablemate Skagen who caught the eye in his debut.